The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball Texas Ex Megan Willis named USSSA Pride Assistant GM
12.21.2016 | Softball
The former Longhorns catcher becomes the first NPF playing veteran to take on a Pride front office role
AUSTIN, Texas – Former Texas softball standout and National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) veteran Megan Willis has been selected as the new Assistant General Manager for the NPF's USSSA Pride according to a Wednesday release by the organization.
The naming of Willis as the Assistant General Manager makes history within USSSA and the entire NPF. This past year, she became the first former Pride player to be named an assistant coach with the team, and with her new front office appointment, becomes only the second former player to assume general manager duties in the entire NPF (Lisa Iancin served as Asst. GM for the Tennessee Diamonds in the 2010 NPF season). Willis played eight seasons in the league, including six of those with the Pride, winning three NPF Championship Series and three NPF regular season titles.
"I could not be more excited about this opportunity," Willis said. "It has always been a goal of mine to become a GM of a team in the NPF, however, it wasn't until I had the privilege to play for the USSSA Pride that I realized I didn't want to be a GM for just any team, I wanted to take over for Don (current Pride GM DeDonatis) when that day came."
As the Assistant General Manager, Willis will serve as a liaison between the Pride players and the USSSA front office. Additional duties will include scouting potential draftees, administering free agent player trades and acquisitions, coordinating in-season and off-season Pride player appearances, planning Pride Fall Tour stops, overseeing Pride player staffing within the USA Elite Select program and communicating between the Pride and management.
"I think it is imperative to keep former NPF players around to help grow our sport," Willis said. "You see it in the college game; our sport has grown tremendously and has improved tenfold. I have to believe that's because you are having more and more women stay in the game, whether its coaching, staying as a GA, becoming a Director of Operations, working for a sports manufacturer or on the broadcasting side. There are just so many opportunities out there to stay in the game today, and I do feel like it's our duty to make sure we find ways to continue to make our sport the best it can be! It has always been a goal of mine to be on the managerial side of a NPF team, and I couldn't be more grateful to Don for seeing my passion for this role and taking a chance on me."
The 2017 NPF season will begin with the annual NPF College Draft. Dates for the draft and upcoming season will be announced in January.
